Page:Hatha yoga - or the yogi philosophy of physical well-being, with numberous excercises.djvu/190

190 loose. You will get the idea if you will think of loose coat-sleeves.

(4) Relax the forearm, letting it swing loose from the elbow. Impart a motion from the upper-arm, but avoid contracting the muscles of the forearm. Shake the forearm around limp and loose. First one arm, then the other, then both.

(5) Let the foot be completely relaxed and swung loose from the ankle. This will require some little practice, as the muscles moving the foot are generally in a more or less contracted condition. But baby's foot is loose enough when he is not using it. First one foot, then the other.

(6) Relax the leg, withdrawing all prana from it and letting it swing loose and limp from the knee. Then swing it and shake it. First one leg and then the other.

(7) Stand on a cushion, stool or large book and let one leg swing loose and limp from the thigh, after having relaxed it completely. First one leg and then the other.

(8) Raise the arms straight above the head, and then, withdrawing all prana from them, let them drop of their own weight to the sides.

(9) Lift the knee up in front as high as you can and then draw all prana from it and let it drop back of its own weight.

(10) Relax the head, letting it drop forward, and then swing it about by the motion of the body. Then, sitting back in a chair, relax it and let it drop backward. It will, of course, drop in any direction the moment you withdraw the prana from it. To get the right idea, think of a person falling asleep,